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Game 50, 2019

The Dodgers send LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 3.00 ERA) to the mound to face RHP Ryne Stanek (0-1, 3.70 ERA). Hill’s last start was brilliant: he retired the first ten batters, gave up two hits over six innings and struck out ten. Stanek has filled the Rays new role of “Opener” to perfection, but it sure looks weird in the stats: 12 starts, 24 1/3 innings. His last outing wasn’t good, though: he gave up three runs in 1/3 of an inning against the Yankees.

In writing about the challenge of hitting .400, Miller noted that the ideal candidate would virtually never strike out, hit a ton of homers, and maintain a high BABIP. That’s a hard combo to find: Power hitters invariably strike out a lot, and high-contact/low-strikeout guys often don’t hit for much power. But in Bellinger, this mythical player actually exists—or at least has for the last two months.

Today in Dodgers’ history:

1998 The Mets trade Preston Wilson, Geoff Goetz, and Ed Yarnell to the Marlins for Mike Piazza. Florida had acquired the All-Star catcher last week from the Dodgers along with Todd Zeile in exchange for Gary Sheffield, Bobby Bonilla, Charles Johnson, Jim Eisenreich, and Manuel Barrios.

1999 Mark McGwire becomes the third player to launch a ball out of Dodger Stadium when one of his two home runs travels 483 feet in the Cardinals’ 10-7 victory at Chavez Ravine. The slugging first baseman joins Willie Stargell, who accomplished the feat twice in 1969 and 1973, and Mike Piazza, whose Ruthian blast cleared the ballpark two seasons ago.

69 thoughts on “Game 50, 2019”

On the Schadenfreude side – Rox lose to Bucs and Gnats lose to Barves in 13 innings at Software Stadium. Gnats “prospect” Mac Williamson goes five for five – five K’s, that is – and is now hitting .128 in 47 ABs, with 15 K’s.

The Athletic has more from Rich Hill as he amplified his opinion of defensive shifts in more detail after the game:

“In my opinion, I never enjoy seeing an entire part of the field left open,” Hill said. “I think hitters are getting better and understanding how to beat the shift. No matter if you’re a power hitter or however you want to categorize a hitter, guys are getting more savvy and understanding how to beat the shift. So we have to make adjustments to that. I think we will, moving forward.”

Hill clarified that he does not expect the Dodgers to cease shifting to one side of the infield when he is on the mound.

“I’m sure we’ll come to an agreement,” he said.

Hill indicated less extreme shifts are more palatable to him, but he said he understands how much analytics work is mixed into all defensive shifting decisions.

“It’s one of those things: damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” he said. “I love it when it works and hate it when it doesn’t.”

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